A few years ago, I had just purchased my first bow a Diamond Razor Edge by Bowtech, after time flinging arrows at paper targets I decided to try my luck with gopher hunting, only to have dismal results. My time in the field resulted in being consistent at one thing-missing. Inexperience and lack of target practice was showing with each hunting season that passed. I knew I had to get more shooting in, but was BORED to death with paper targets, walking down the lane to pull out my arrows at each end I would shoot, I’d stare at the 3D targets thinking, “now that would be fun”. But even after getting my new Hoyt Spyder, my ego was getting the best of me, see I was terribly afraid of shooting in front of people, let alone shooting in a tournament.
So at the persuading of G2 I joined him one cold Sunday morning to the local shop’s 3D shoot. The benefit of when it’s -30 degrees on a Sunday morning, is most people are not inclined to leave the house. My first day of 3D, luckily no one showed up, and I decided eventually I didn’t care if people saw me shoot. Miraculously I could actually hit the targets.
The thing I loved about 3D was it gave me a better understanding of my bow, helped refine my shot and a better gauge of depth of field and shot placement. Suddenly target practice was fun and waking up early Sundays to shoot foam dinosaurs became my thing. The best part, over time my shooting and confidence got much better.
Taking 3D practice to the outdoors added that additional element of reality that anyone would experience in the woods- wind, rain and bugs buzzing in your ear as you are trying to aim through branches. Our rule is not to use a range finder, practicing gauging distance has made me very familiar with my sight pins and what will work for a particular shot.
And now my hunting has been dramatically different this year, my gopher hunting has improved greatly. To those that may be offended, gophers cause a great deal of destruction in the pasture and fields, which is dangerous for livestock and horses. And these gophers fed a nest of red-tailed hawks along with other animals that required a meal. Although definitely not perfect, all I know is maybe now I’m ready for that turkey.
